Historic Figure: Artist Vinnie Ream

Imagine you’re a present-day 18-year-old artist who lives in Washington, D.C. and you are so accomplished as a sculptor that the president of the United States allows you to work for half an hour a day in his office, creating a sculpture of him while he works at his desk in the Oval Office.

Vinnie Ream, a young sculptor is the only person to have sculpted Abraham Lincoln from life. At 18 years old, President Lincoln sat for her sculpture (bust) of him. Shortly after his death, Vinnie Ream was awarded a Congressional Commission to sculpt a full-size statue of Lincoln. The sculpture was unveiled with great ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda on a cold day in January 1871* when Vinnie was only 23.

The work and history of Vinnie Ream continues to inspire women through the National League of American Pen Women, whose headquarters in the historic Pen Arts Building and Art Museum, is on Dupont Circle in Washington D.C.

Vinnie Ream is an iconic figure for the National League of American Pen Women. She was a qualified NLAPW member in three categories: letters, art, and music.

Vinnie Ream portrait, www.vinnieream.com

In 2015 the NLAPW created the Vinnie Ream Award to honor award-winning members in four disciplines: Art, Letters, Music, and Multi-discipline. The first awards were presented to winners at the NLAPW 48th Biennial Vinnie Ream Banquet, held in Washington, DC, on April 28th, 2016.

The Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Jacksonville, Florida held a special “Vinnie Ream Exhibit” from September 2, 2016 through October 30 2016.